Material feed control apparatus for sewing machines



asmm Juiy 34, W42 t L. o. WILFONG MATERIAL FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept '6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Hiorn'ey jaafiy, M 1%2 1.. WHLFGNG 29 9 I MATERIAL FEED CONTROL APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uenior L/LLARD O. W/LF0/va lur-LND. g M. Attorne Z ZQflZE MATERIAL FEED comnop APPARATUS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, sase s Sheets-Sheet s L/LLARD O. PWLFo/va Patented July 14, 1942 PAT ' MATERIAL FEED CONTROL APPARATUSFOE SEWING MACHINES Lillard o. wnrong. Glendale, Calif.,-assignor of one-fourth to John Ca r I Application September 18 Claims.

My invention relates to and has for a purpose the provision of an apparatus for automatically controlling the feed of any textile fabric or other material to any conventional form of sewing machine, in such a manner as to effect and at all times insure stitching of the fabric on a line exactly paralleling the edge thereofand irrespective of whether such edge'is curved, angular or straight. Except for the actual positioning and starting of the fabric into the apparatus and machine, my invention in its guiding of a fabricto the sewing machine is entirely automatic, thusavoiding the constant manual guidance heretofore necessary. V

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide .a fabric guiding apparatus which has certain parts adjustable to vary and control the distance of the line of-sewing from the edge of the fabric, as well as to cause the line of sewing to accurately follow the edge of the fabric, whether it is curved, angular or straight, and in all instances and at all times to maintain the line of sewing parallel to the edge of the fabric. I will describe onlyone form of material feed control apparatus for sewing machines embodying-my invention, and will their point out the novelfeatures thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents" a top-plan ,view of one em bodiment of myinvention.

Fig/2 represents a sectional view taken on th line 2-2 of. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a bottom plan view of. the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 :as looking upwardly from the line3 -3inFig.2.-.,r ,1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line. l-l of, Fig. 1, showing theadjustable circuit closer and manner in which the same is operated.

Fig. 5 is. an enlarged sectional theline5 5 oiFig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the of Fig. 3.

line 8-6 Fig. '1 is a-sectionalview taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 showing the electrically operative means for operating the feed rollers to cause them to grip and release the;material.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, showing the construction and arrangement of the feed and guide rollers. Y

Fig. 9 ma cross sectional view taken on the linei'9'ofFig.8.,- iolisaschematic view showing the manner in which the material is fed and guided in aci '55 my invention and in particular to the feedrollcordance with my invention. I

viewtaken on N. Jeffers, Los Angeles,

6,-1939, semi No.'293,577- V foot of the needle assembly-of the sewing machine and in such angular relation thereto that upon" driving at least one roller at such a speed 10 that the feed action thereof isslower than that of the sewing machine, the material between the rollers and the-presser foot is placed under longitudinal tension and thus caused to be fed in a straight line to the sewing machine but at an angle to the axes of said rollers. This angular disposition of the rollers tends to feed the material so that the adiacent edge thereof. will move laterally or obliquely outward instead of in a straight line as aforesaid, and although the pull of the sewing machine feeder on the material between it and; the rollersacts to correct this lateral feed, it becomes. necessary to limit andlcontrolthe feed action of the rollers from time to time in order that the material as it passes to the needle is stitched'on a line which I at all times is parallel to the adjacent edge of the material before it passes the rollers, to bring about a releaseof the material between the rollers so that the pull on the ungripped material aseffected by the sewing machine feeder, will shift the material inwardly or in the opposite direction to that in which it is angularly forced when gripped and fed by the rollers. As soon as the edge of the material nioves-clearoi the control 40 means sufliciently to remove the pressure which actuated it, the rollers. will automatically-grip I y-the adjusted material, and the feedoi material to the machine continues in the straight path as necessary to insure stitching parallel tothe material edge. This-shifting ofthe material takes place automatically, "and intermittently during the sewing operation, and thus-correctly positions the material before the incorrectly dis posed portions thereof reach the sewing machine 'needle; These provisions make it possible to insure an accurate feed automatically after'once positioning the material and setting the machine. and apparatus into operation.

Referring more speciiically'to the apparatus of ENT 1 other] feed as effected by the feeder of such assembly.

The roller C is driven by a shaft I3 mounted in a table supported bracket l4, and is mounted or splined on the shaft as at l5. so'as' to be adjustable axially for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. Theshaft I3 is driven by a gear train II which is operated by gear connected shafts l8 and IS the latter of which is driven from a re-.

duction gear unit operated by the pulley and belt drive 2| for the sewing machine. The drive means for the roller C is geared so that the feed action of the rollers is slower than that of the sewing machine. whereby the material between the rollers and the machine is placed der tension.

As here provided, the lower roller C is mov able into and out of contact withthe roller C,

ment with the contact 31 to close the switch, energize the solenoid and thus cause the lower roller 6' to be lowered to effect release of the material. As here shown, the switch 35 is disposed to be engaged by the material edge in advance of the rollers C and C and is spaced outwardly and to the right of the outer ends of the rollers, as seen in Figs. 1 and 10, with the outer face of the contact 38 substantially parallel to the end faces of the rollers C and C.

The switch 35 is mounted on the table B for bodily adjustment on a line paralleling the axes of the rollers C and C. This is for the purpose of varying the spacing of the line of stitching from the edge of the material for according as the switch is moved toward or away from the rollers on the line aforesaid, the spacing of the line of stitching from the material edge will be decreased or increased accordingly. A bracket 40 supports the switch and has a slotted portion 4| adjustably secured on the table by means of fastenings 42, whereby to aiford the desired adjustments 0f the switch.

whereby the material may be gripped and re-. leased in accordance with this invention, al-

though it is obvious that any relative movement of the rollers affording such gripping and releasing action may be employed. In the present embodiment, the roller C is supported on a stub shaft 23 carried by a lever 24 fulcrumed at one end as at 25 on the bracket l4 and pivoted at its other end to an actuating lever 21 by means of a link 26. The lever 21 is fulcrumed as at 28 beneath the table B and arranged to be rocked by-a solenoid 29 fixed to a bracket 30 depending from the table B.

Normally, the-weight of the lever 21 and armature 3| of the solenoid 2'9 serve to hold the rollers will grip and feed the material toward the sewing machine. When, however, the solenoid is energized the lever 21 is rocked to the dash line position shown in Fig. 'I and the roller C is thereby lowered from contact with roller C, as indicated by the dash line position shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the gripping and feeding of the material by the rollers ceases. Upon deenergization of the solenoid the lever 21 and as sociated parts will gravitate to normal position and thereby lift theroller C into gripping and feeding position.

It should be noted that the link 28 is adjustable to regulate the throw of the lever 24 and the extent of movement of the roller C. The shaft 23 is detach'ably secured to the lever 24 by means of a screw 33, and the roller C is removably held for free rotation on the shaft by means of a flanged screw 34. It should be noted that the roller 0' has a longer bearing or peripheral surface than roller C so that proper coaction of the rollers will take place in all positions of axial adjustment of roller C.

The control and. guide means I) also includes a switch 35 for an electrical circuit 38 (see Fig. 3) embodying the solenoid 29. As here provided, this switch (see Fig. 4) includes a fixed contact 31 and a movable spring contact arm 38 which latter is normally spaced from the-contact 31. Themovable arm 33 is positioned for free move- .roller C against the under side of the roller C so that the longitudinally ribbed surfaces of the An endless belt 43 is mounted in an opening 44 m the table B and extends obliquely to the line of feed of the edge of the material, at a point adiacent the rollers C and C and the switch 35. As indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, the belt 43 is adapted to be driven in the' opposite direction to the direction of feed of the material, and to have tractive engagement with the material to perform functions to be described hereinafter.

A drive means 45 operating from the shaft ll drives one of the rollers 46 on which the belt is mounted. The frame 41 for supporting the rollers 45 is vertically adjustable through the means 48 for inclining the belt as indicated in Fig. 5 to regulate the tractive action thereof to best feed material of different thicknesses and weight. The driven roller 46 is adjustable on the frame 41 through the means 49 to regulate the tractive action of the belt as desired to suit different materials.

- Another endless belt 50 is mounted on the sewing machine bed 5| and driven by drive means 52 which as shown in-Fig. 3 is geared to and driven by the reduction gear unit 20. The frame 53 for rollers 54 of the belt 50 is adjustably secured as at 55 whereby the belt may be tilted to regulate the tractive action thereof tobest handle difierent materials. One of the rollers 54 is adjustable through the means 59 for regulating ment in an opening 39 in the table B so that it the tension of the belt to best suit it for handling materials of diiferent thicknesses and weight.

The operation of my apparatus in conjunction with a sewing machine is as follows:

Let it be assumed that two or more layers of material are to be stitched one to the other along one of their edges, as by way of example, and that such edge has a straight portion, an angular portion, and a curved portion. The material is placed on the table and sewing machine bed so as to overlie the belts 43 and 50,-with that edge of the material to be stitched extending diagonally of the belt 43. From this belt the material edge is extended parallel to, but spaced from the switch arm 38, and then between the rollers C and C so that it is on a line substantially at right angles to the axes of the rollers. As will be noted in Fig. 10, the material is so placed between the rollers -that when the rollers are closed the material is gripped at a point spaced from the edge thereof. From the rollers the material is now pulled manually to the left its edge extended beneath the sewing assembly I: of the sewing machine.

With the material positioned as illustrated 'in ginal edge of the material is placed under-lengthwise tension, with the maximum tension exerted on a line intersecting the right hand end of the rollers, and hence at a point spaced from the extreme edge of the material. Although the sewing machine feeder tends .to feed the material straight to the machine, this tensioning of the material just in advance of the presser foot insures, at all times, a straight line of feed of the material.

This function is essential to maintain a line of stitching at all-times parallel to the edge of the material. v

Due to the angularity of feed of the material .to the rollersin relation to the line of tension exerted on the marginal edge of the material by the sewing machine feeder, the material in the rear of the rollers constantly tends to swing or shift to the right, as when viewed in Figs. 1 and 10, thus urging or biasing the edge to be stitched in the general direction of the switch 35. This biasing action is confined to certain by the action of the belt 43, in the following manner:

The belt 43 is driven at such a speed that its upper stretch in its rearward movement exerts such suflicient tractive force rearwardly on the straight, curved or angular, so long as such edge material overlying it, ,as to resist the swinging or shifting movement of the material to the right as imparted thereto by the sewing machine feeder. This resistive action is such that the material is maintained generally in a position on the table wherein the edge to be stitched extends substantially diagonally of the belt so as to be fed to the rollers on a line substantially at right angles to the axes of the rollers. The belt performs the added functions of maintaining the material flat on the table against being fed to the rollers in a folded or gathered condition, and placing the material edge under sufilcient lengthwise tension to prevent it from turning under or over and to insure closure of the switch when moved thereagainst.

I a The belt 50 is driven at such a speed that the material overlying it will be moved forwardly on the machine bed at the same rate of speed as the marginal edge to be stitched travels from the feed I rollers to the presser foot. llhis prevents any paralleling the straight edge.

trol means is dispensed with as in straight edge the switch and operate the control means, but

the resultant shifting of the material is not such as to cause the stitching to deviate from a line Where the constitching, increased thicknesses of material are taken care of by increasing the number of stitches per inch of material through acceleration. of the stitching action of the sewing machine, while maintaining the same feeding action of the rollers. This increases the tension of the. material between the rollers and the sewing machine so that the material in the rear of the rollers is shifted to the right the same amount as. with lighter materials, and thus the material is maintained in the same feeding position on the belt 43.

The operation of the control means and the resultant efiects, are as follows: Whether the'material edge to be stitched be in its travel past the switch does not engage the arm 38, the rollers remain closed to feed the material as described with itsmarginal edge tensioned and so drawn to the sewing machine as to cause itto be-stitched on a line paralleling its extreme edge. However, whenever the tensioned material edge moves against the switch arm the latter is actuated to close the switch, thereby causing the solenoid to be energized and the rollei's opened by lowering of the roller C. With opening of the rollers the material therebetween is reelased to subject the marginal edge of the material to the full feed action of thesewing backing up of the material to the left of the sewing head, and maintains the material against shifting to the right or left from the straight line of feed between the rollers and presser foot, even after the end of the material has passed from between the rollers- Thus, with the functions of the two belts and the rollers explained, it would be clear that as long as; the edge of the material to be stitched is straight in point of contour, the material will be drawn to and stitched by the sewing machine on a line which is parallel to such straight edge. The use of the control means D is not necessary to thisstraight edge stitching should the belt 63 be so adjusted that its tractive force as exerted on the material be such as to maintain the line of feed of the marginal edge of the material to the rollers precisely at right angles to theaxes of the rollers. However, where niy apparatus is designed for stitching material having angular andcurved asv well as straight edges, it is necessary that the belt 43 be adjusted so as machine feeder. This results in the marginal edge being straightened from the angle in which it was positioned, and, as a consequence, shifted to the left and out of contact with the switch arm. The instant this occurs, the switch opens to deenergize the solenoid and thus. cause the rollers to close and regrip the material point along its edge.

The new point of gripping depends upon how long the rollers remain open, for this in turn determines the degree of shift ofthe material to the left. Manifestly,' where the material edge is straight, the shift is negligible, while where the straight edge progresses to another straight edge at an angle thereto, the shift is considerable momentarily to compensate for such change in angle. Once the material has passed to the second straight edge in its travelbetween the rollers, the latter regrip the material and the biasing action thereon is resumed.

Where an edge of convex form is encountered they switch is repeatedly and rapidly closed and opened due to the protruding curvature of such edge. This produces a corresponding opening and closing of the rollers and this results in a rapid and intermittent shifting of the material edge in its line of feed to the presser foot. As a consequence, the material is stitched on a curved line which exactly parallels such convex'edge.

Where a concave edge is encountered, thethere is little shifting of the material to the left.

Shifting of the material edge to the right thereatane'w,

fore predominates in order that the material as drawn to the sewing machine be guided in a manner to cause it to be stitched on a curved line exactly paralleling such concave edge.

' In case of extreme or abrupt curvatures in the edge of a material to he stitched, the control means can be rendered more sensitive to so shift the material as to cause it to be stitched on a curved line exactly parallel to such extreme or abruptly curved edge. This is eilected by an adjustment of the roller C axially to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1. This causes a greater width of material to be extended from the right hand end of the roller which in turn produces a more frequent operation of the switch and, hence, such frequent shifting of the mate-' rial as to cause the line of stitching to accurately follow the edge.

When it is desired to change the spacing of the line of stitching from the edge of the material the switch 35 is adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in the manner previously described herein.

Although I have herein shown only one'form of material feed control apparatus for sewing machines embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for feeding and guiding ma-. terial to a sewing machine, feed rollers positioned obliquely to the normal straight line of feed of the material to the needle of the sewing machine for gripping between them and controlling the feed of material to the needle, and means operated by pressure engagement of the material therewith for controlling the feed action of the rollers so as to effect stitching of the material on a line paralleling an adjacent edge of the material.

2. In apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for effecting the stitching of the material on a line paralleling an adjacent edge of said material, feed rollers positioned obliquely to the normal straight line of feed of the material to the needle and feeder of the sewing machine, and control means adapted to be operated responsive to pressure of an edge of the material for effecting relative movemerit of said rollers to release the material while said edge is engaged with said control means and to move said rollers back into material gripping and feeding position upon cessation of the pressure of said edge.

3. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which is parallel to an adjacent edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine whereby to place the material under tension; control means operating responsive to the pressure of an edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definite position, for causing the feed device to release the material, and for causing the feed device to grip the material when said edge is clear of said control means. said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means.

4. Anapparatus for feeding and guiding ma-v terial to a sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which is parallel to an adjacent edge.

of the material, comprisingi a device for gripsaid edge is engaged with said control means, and v ping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine, to place the material under tension; control means operating responsive to the pressure of an edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definite position relative to said device, for causing the feed device to release the material, and for causing the feed device togrip the material when said edge is clear of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; and means operating in advance of said control means for maintaining the edge of the material in advance of said control means at an angle to the edge of the material which is disposed between said device and said sewing machine.

5. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which is parallel to an adjacent, edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine, for placing the material under tension at that marginal edge to be sewed; control means operating responsive to the pressure of said edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definite position to one side and in advance of.said device for causing the feed device to release the material; and for causing the feed device to grip the material when said edge is free of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; and a rotatable member over and in contact with which the material passes in advance of said control means and which moves in the opposite direction to the directional feed of thematerial and at an 7 angle thereto to maintain the edge of the maneedle and feeder assembly of the sewing machine; meansfor driving at least one of said rollers at a speed such that the feed action of the rollers is slower than that of the feeder of the sewing machine; control means adapted to be operated responsive to the pressure of an edge of the material for effecting relative movement of. said rollers to release the material while to move said rollers back into material gripping and feeding position when said edge is moved clear of said control means; and an endless belt moving in a direction opposite that in which the material is fed, mounted adjacent and in advance of said control means and over which the material passes and is urged laterally to one side of said control means while feeding to said rollers,

-'l.-An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for effecting the stitching of the material on a line paralleling an edge of said material, comprising: obliquely positioned feed rollers adapted to grip and feed the material between them at an angle and toward the needle and feeder assembly of the sewing machine; means for driving at least one 'of device to release the material and for causing effecting relative movement of said rollers to release the material while said edge is engaged with.

said control means, and to move said rollers back into material gripping and feeding position when Y said edge is moved clear of said control means; an endless belt moving in a direction opposite that in which the material is fed, mounted adjacent and in advance of said control means and over which the material passes and is urged laterally to one side of said control means while feeding to said rollers; and a similar endless belt operating in the direction of feed of the material through the sewing machine for moving the material at the same rate of speed as and in a direction parallel to said edge as it passes from the feed rollers to the sewing machine feeder.

8. An apparatus for .feeding 'and guiding material to a. sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which is parallel to the adjacent edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine, for placing the material under tension; control means operating responsive to the pressure of, said edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definiteposition to one side and in advance of said device for causing the feed device to release the material and the feed device to grip the material when 'said edge is free of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; and means for adjusting said control means to vary the spacing thereof from said rollers for varying the spacing of the line of stitching from the marginal edge of the material.

9. An apparatus for feeding and guiding ma terial to a sewing machine for efiecting the stitching of the material on a line paralleling an adjacent edge of said material, comprising: obliquely positioned feed rollers adapted to grip and feed the material between them at an angle to the normal straight line of feed of the material toward the needle and feeder assembly of the sewing machine; means for driving at least one of said rollers at a speed such that the feed action of the rollers is slower thanthat of the feeder of the sewing machine; control means adapted to be operated responsive to the pressure of the marginal edge of the material, for effecting relative movement of said rollers to release the material while said edge is engaged with said control means andto move said rollers back into material gripping and feeding position when said edge is moved clear of said control means; and

.meansfor adjusting at least one of said rollers bodily toward and away from said control means.

10. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for efiecting a line of stitching which is parallel to an adjacent edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine for placing the material'under ten sion; control means operating responsive to pressure of said edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definite position-jto one side and V in advance of said device for causing the feed the feed device to grip the material when said edge is free of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; means for adjusting said control means to vary the spacing thereof from said feed device for varying the spacing of the line of stitching from themarginal edge of the material; and means for adjusting at least one of the rollers toward and away from said control means.

11. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which is parallel to an adjacent edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping'and feeding material toward the sewing machine for placing the material under tension; control means operating responsive to the pres sure-of said edge of the material when the latter is disposed at a definite position toone side and in advance of said device for causing the feed device to release the material and for causing the feed device to grip the material when said edge is free of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; and means for effecting relative adjustment of said feed device and control means for varying the spacing of the line of stitching from the edge of the material. v

12. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine for eiiecting a line of stitching-which is parallel to the adjacent edge of the material, comprising: a device for gripping and feeding material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed actionof the sewing machine, for placing the material under tension; control means operating re-' sponsive to'the pressure of said edge of the material when the'latter is disposed at a definite position to one side and in advance of said device for causing the feed device to release the material, and for causing the feed device to grip the material when said edge is free of said control means, said feed device being obliquely positioned to bias the feed of material toward said control means; and means for bodily adjusting and setting the control means for operation at points variously spaced from said feed device.

13. An apparatus for feeding andguiding material to a sewing machine for effecting a line of stitching which parallels an edge of the material, comprising: a power operated feed device for gripping and feeding the material toward the sewing machine at a slower rate than that of the feed action of the sewing machine itself, whereby to place the material between the sewing machine and said device under tension; control means disposed in advance andto one side of the feed device adapted to be operated by pressure of an edge of the material thereon, said ,feed device being positionedvfor biasing the material angularly toward said control means as it is fed toward the sewingo machine; and means operating responsive to actuation of said control means for effecting the release of the material by said gripping device while said edge is engaged with said control means and for restoring the gripping operation of said feed device when said edge is moved clear of said control means.

14. An apparatus for feeding and guiding material to a sewing machine so as to efiect a line of stitching thereon which is parallel to an adjacent edge thereof, comprising: a device for gripping material at a definite point spaced from the edge to be stitched and feeding the material to the sewing machine at a slower rate than the feed action of the sewing machine so as I to place the material under tension, said device being positioned at an oblique angle to the line of feed of the material from the device to the sewing machine, so that the feeding action of the sewing machine operates to bias that portion of the material in advance of the device laterally in the direction. of the edge of the material to be stitched; and control means responsive to the pressure exerted by said edge as developed by said biasing action, for causing the device to release the material and thus allow the feed action of the machine to so move the material that its marginal edge is shifted in the opposite direction to that in which it was biased and out of contact with the control means thereby causing the device to regrip the material at the same definite point along the edge of the material.

15. In combination, a sewing machine, means for feeding material thereto; and means operable by pressure engagement of the material therewith for so controlling the action of said feeding means as to cause the material to be stitched by the sewing machine at all times on a line paralleling one edge of thematerial.

16. In combination; a sewing machine having a needle, and means for feeding the material beneath the needle so as to be sewed thereby; a feed device positioned in advance of the needle for feeding material to the sewing machine at an angle to the normal straight line of feed; and control means for causing said feed device to intermittently grip and release the material responsive to variational positioning of one edge of the material with respect to a definite point which is out of line with a normal straight line of feed between said device and the sewing machine.

17. In combination; a sewing machine having a needle, and means for feeding material beneath the needle so as to be sewed thereby; a feed device positioned in advance of said needle for feeding the material to the sewing machine at an angle to the normal straight line of feed; and control means for causing said feed device to intermittently grip and release the material responsive to variational positioning of one edge of the material with respect to a definite point which is out of line with a normal straight line of feed between said device and the sewing machine, said control means including a member constructed and arranged to be actuated by the edge of the material at a point in advance of the needle of the sewing machine for controlling the release of the material by said device.

18. In combination; a sewing machine having a needle, and means for feeding material beneath the needle so as to be sewed thereby; a feed device in advance of said needle for feeding the material to the sewing machine at an angle to the normal straight line of feed; control means for causing said feed device to intermittently grip and release the material responsive to variational positioning of one edge of the material with respect to a definite point which is out of line with a, normal straight line of feed between said device and the sewing machine, said control means including a member constructed and arranged to be actuated by the edge of the material at a point in advance of the needle of the sewing machine for controlling the release of the ma-' terial by said device; and means operating in advance of said control means for maintaining the edge of the material in advance of said mem her under tension and at an angle to that edge of the material which is disposed between said device and said needle, and for holding said material flat as it is fed to said control means.

LILLARD O. WILFONG. 

